بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الرَّحْمَـٰنِ
الرَّحِيمِ
الْمَلِكِ
الْقُدُّوسِ
السَّلَامِ
1446 - شَوَّال الْمُكَرَّم
الْمُؤْمِنِ
الْمُهَيْمِنِ
الْعَزِيزِ
الْجَبَّارُ
الْمُتَكَبِّرُ
L
O
A
D
I
N
G
Dhuhr
02:00 PM
Asr
06:15 PM
Maghrib
07:46 PM
Isha
09:45 PM
Jumu'ah
02:00 PM
Shirk
شرك
Text Size:
Shirk (Association) is the most serious sin in Islam, defined as attributing Divine qualities or worship to anyone or anything other than Allah. It is the direct opposite of Tawheed. There are two main types: "Shirk al-Akbar" (Major Shirk), such as praying to idols or saints, which takes one out of the fold of Islam; and "Shirk al-Asghar" (Minor Shirk), such as "Riya" (performing good deeds to show off to others). The Quran warns that Allah will not forgive Shirk if a person dies in that state without repenting: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills" (4:48). For a believer, avoiding Shirk requires constant vigilance over the heart to ensure that no person, desire, or worldly power becomes a "partner" to Allah in their devotion. Major shirk includes worshiping other deities, seeking help from the dead or idols, and believing that anyone besides Allah has ultimate control over the universe. It nullifies all good deeds and necessitates repentance (tawbah) to return to Islam. Minor shirk includes showing off, swearing by other than Allah, and saying "If Allah wills and so-and-so wills" without recognizing Allah as the ultimate source. The Prophet warned: "The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk,showing off" (Ahmad). Shirk also includes superstitions such as believing in bad omens, fortune-telling, or that certain objects have independent power to harm or benefit. These beliefs violate Tawhid by attributing divine attributes to creation. For believers, safeguarding one's Tawhid requires constant self-reflection, sincere intention, and seeking protection in Allah from both overt and hidden shirk. The Prophet taught a supplication: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from associating partners with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly" (Ahmad). True faith is pure monotheism,directing all acts of worship, love, fear, and hope to Allah alone, without any intermediary or partner.
Viewed 269 times
Browse Dictionary
Join Our Mission to Preserve Islamic Knowledge
"The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it."
- Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Missing Terms
Is there an Islamic term you'd like to see explained? Share it with us and help others learn.
Report Issues
If you notice any inaccuracies or areas for improvement, please let us know so we can correct them.
Source References
Have authentic references or additional information for existing terms? We welcome contributions.
Arabic Corrections
Help us ensure Arabic spellings and diacritical marks are accurate.
Together, we can build the most comprehensive and accurate Islamic dictionary online.
Submit Your Feedback
Donate Now !
Registered Charity
